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Poetry can heal and inform the heart. It can inspire and expand consciousness. Here are some of my favorites.
Sound of Water by Sam Hamill The best translations of haiku capturing the essence. Here's one:
At the ancient pond
a frog plunges into
the sound of water.
--Basho
New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver, Hardcover. Paperback Her poems are beautifully crafted and most of them smack me up side the head in the last stanzas, just to awaken me. These can change your life.
Selected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke by Robert Bly These are great translations and commentary of the German's stunning poetry.
News of the Universe : Poems of Twofold Consciousness This is a selection of poems gathered by Robert Bly for the Sierra Club. It looks at our views of nature over the last two centuries or so. This book introduced me to some of my favorite poets and poems.
The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart : Poems for Men This is another great collection of poems. Gathered by Robert Bly, Michael Mead and James Hillman
Neruda and Vallejo : Selected Poems More collections and translations by Robert Bly. Neruda and Vallejo are intense and wonderful Spanish language poets. I learned Spanish to read these guys.
Pablo Neruda : Selected Poems/Bilingual Edition This has selections over his entire career, and as the title suggests, it has the original poem in Spanish on one page and an English translation facing. Quite wonderful. Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature while in exile from his home land of Chile. A great fictional version of him was key to the film, Il Postino. See my Films that Heal Section.
Unseen Rain : Quatrains of Rumi Rumi is said to be the most spiritual of poets. Sounds right to me. These are great translations by Coleman Barks (at right) that capture the spirit of this holy man. If you haven't read about Sufis you are in for a treat. These poems are filled with love and ecstasy. Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society jokes that the true purpose of poetry is to woo women. I used this book for such an end with my sweet Suzanne. Because the poems are short, four lines, this is an easy place to start with Rumi.
The Illuminated Rumi by Jalal Al-Din Rumi, Coleman Barks (Translator), Michael Green (Illustrator) Love of the Divine, Sacred Truth, ecstasy, inspiringly illuminated. Go to my review.
The Essential Rumi by Jalal Al-Din Rumi, Coleman Barks (Translator), Maulana J Lal Al-Din Rumi, John Moyne. As the name implys this is an essential collection of Rumi's poetry. It is the longest of all the books that Barks has written and the same great quality.
We Are Three; New Rumi Poems More translations by Coleman Barks.
Poems of Rumi/Audio Cassettes by Jalaluddin Rumi, Robert Bly, Coleman Barks These guys are the voice of Rumi for me. It is always wonderful hearing poetry read to you. The poems are accompanied by sitar, tabla, flute and percussion. It's all quite perfect.
A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver I love Mary Oliver's poetry (see above) and this book talks well about poetry. Her writing is about love and respect.
Writing Down the Bones : Freeing the Writer Within By Natalie Goldberg Although not about poetry specifically, this is a most inspirational book. She'll get you writing and writing from your heart. She's one of my heroes.
The Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake Blake was a mystic, an artist, and a poet. What's not to love. Well truth be known some of his stuff makes no sense to me. Some of it is right on. Tyger! Tyger! burning bright/ In the forests of the night. Yummmm.
Now We Are Six by A A Milne, Hardcover Cassette Tape Version Read by Charles Kuralt Another Cassette Tape Version Paperback These are poems my dear Suzanne loves by the author of Winnie the Pooh. Reading level 4-8 years.
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